Statewide Panel Highlights the Success of Young Adult Justice Initiative

Join Judge Jared R. Rice to learn about the successes of Opportunity Youth Part.

On March 4th, the Hon. Jared R. Rice will lead a panel presentation on the Opportunity Youth Part (OYP) initiative he launched in New Rochelle City Court in October 29, 2020. The presentation will take place at the statewide virtual conference of the New York Association of Treatment Court Professionals (NYATCP). This year’s conference theme is the “Changing Landscape of Treatment Courts” and Judge Rice’s panel presentation is entitled “Opportunity Youth Part: Emerging Adult Justice Reform in New Rochelle.” Three other panelists will join Judge Rice for the presentation, including: Daniel Bonnet, Regional Director of all Community Action Centers in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam; Felice Harris, Director of Integrated Services and Crisis and Community-Based Programs at The Guidance Center of Westchester; and Colleen Gardephe, Coordinator of Opportunity Youth Part.

“We’re excited to showcase the accomplishments of our initiative and outline how this community-centric approach to Emerging Adult Justice works,” notes Judge Rice. “We have managed to assemble an outstanding team of case managers, service providers, lawyers and mentors, all of whom work together to provide treatment resources and job and educational opportunities to these justice-involved youth, offering them a second chance at succeeding in life.”

The initiative serves young people 16-24 who are not in school, are unemployed or under-employed, and are typically disconnected from positive services within their communities. Opportunity Youth Part's community-focused approach links eligible young adults facing misdemeanor or felony charges to direct service providers who offer mental health and substance use treatment, job training and placement, academic assistance, and mentoring services. To date, Opportunity Youth Part has engaged with approximately 140 youth, 87% of whom are Black or Hispanic; 73% of participants are male.

In addition, 35 stakeholders meet regularly to support the initiative, including: the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Legal Aid Society of Westchester, other defender associations, the New Rochelle

Police Department, elected officials, academic institutions, educators, health care professionals and other community organizations. This unique initiative is also supported by the Center for Court Innovation, which oversees the Opportunity Youth Part Coordinator role, and the Columbia Justice Lab. Opportunity Youth Part, the first Emerging Adult Justice initiative in the 9th Judicial District, is becoming a model for other communities.

To learn more about the program, contact Coordinator Colleen Gardephe at cgardephe@nycourts.gov or call (332) 220-6326.